Flying-machine



Patented Sept. 7,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

244. AERONAUTIGS -P. L. HARVEY.

FLYING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED 05c. Is. 1918.

I 1,35 1,905. Patentedsept. 7,1920,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- FIG. 9

244. AERONAUTICS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER L. HARVEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. *7, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER L. HARVEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Flying-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a flying machine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flying machine of the type having pairs of vertically, spaced wings open at their forward edges, and capable of simultaneous swinging movement, said machine having a propeller at its forward end, and a propeller at its lower portion, the construction being such as to enable the machine to rise at a very sharp angle.

A further object is to provide in such a machine a pair of hinged rudder members connected with mechanism for operating the rudder members simultaneously with the operation of the wings, or capable of operating ghe wings independently of the rudder memers.

Still a further object is to provide in such a machine means for connecting or disconnecting the propellers with the power shaft.

WVith these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a flying machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the rudder.

Fig. 4 shows a top or plan view of the machine.

Fig. 5 shows a detail view of part of the mechanism for supporting the wings.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of part of the controlling mechanism.

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the power shaft and controlling levers for the clutch.

Fig. 8 shows a vertical, central, sectional View through the mechanism illustrated in Fi 7.

ig. 9 shows a side elevation of the machine with wings and rudder in position for landing.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a cigar shaped body having the cock pit l1 and having the portions at the opposite ends of the cock pit made of strips or bars 12 between which the air can pass freely.

Mounted in the body is a shaft 13. At the forward end of the shaft 13 is a propeller 14. Arranged in the body of the flying machine and alined with the shaft 13 is a power shaft 16. On the shaft 13 is fixed a clutch member 17. Slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the power shaft 16 is a coacting clutch member 18 having a hub 19, a portion of which is formed with an annular groove 20.

On the shaft 16 is fixed a collar 21. Between the collar 21 and the hub 19 is a coil spring 22 by which the clutch members 18 and 17 are normally held in engagement.

The clutch members mentioned should be of a type which permit slippage.

Extending downwardly from the body portion is a shaft 23. Slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 16 is a friction disk 24 having a beveled edge 25. On the upper end of the shaft 23 is a friction wheel 26 having a beveled edge adapted to coact with the beveled edge of the disk 24.

The disk 24 has a hub 27 formed with an annular groove to receive the arms 28 of a controlling lever 29. A spring 30 normally holds the disk 24 out of engagement with the wheel 26. Received in the groove 20 are the arms 31 of another controlling lever.

The controlling elever 29 is pivoted at 32 between its ends and at its end farthest removed from the hub 27 is pivoted at 33 to a rearwardly extending link 34.

Pivoted between its ends is a lever 35 on one end of which is a foot pedal 36. The other end of the lever 35 is pivoted to the rear end of the link 34.

The controlling lever 37 is pivoted at 1 out of gear. By pressing on the foot lever 41, the clutch members 18 and 17 may be moved out of contact, and the propeller 14 thrown out of gear. By pressing down wardly on the foot lever or pedal 36, the disk 24, which in a sense forms a clutch member, may be thrown into friction engagement with the wheel 26, which forms another clutch member for throwing the propeller 42 into gear.

Mounted on the body near the cock pit is a frame comprising spaced horizontal members 43 and 44. At the ends of the members 43 are formed horizontal alined bearings 45. Mounted in the bearings 45 are shafts 46. On the inner ends of the shafts 46 are beveled gears 47. Supported on the shafts 46 are the upper wings 48.

At the ends of the frame member 44 are alined horizontal bearings 49 in which are mounted shafts 50, on the inner ends of which are beveled gears 51. On the shafts 50 are fixed the lower wings 52.

Mounted in suitable bearings are spaced upright shafts 53. On the outer ends of the members 53 are beveled gears 54 meshing with the respective beveled gears 47. On the lower ends of the shaft 53 are beveled gears 55 meshing with the respective beveled gears 51. The wings 48 and 52 on each side of the machine are connected near their forward edges with series of upright supports 56, each of which is pivoted at 57 at its upper and lower ends to a plate 58. The plates 58 are secured to the respective wings 48 and 52.

Brace wires 59 extend from the wings forwardly to the forward end of the main body of the flying machine.

Secured to each upright shaft is an arm 60 extending rearwardly and slightly outwardly as shown in Fig. 4.

Pivoted to the rear end of each arm 60 in an inwardly extending arm 61. Each arm 61 is pivoted at its inner end to a lever 62 between the ends of said lever, as shown in Fig. 6. Each lever 62 is pivoted between its ends just below the pivot point of the arm 61 by means of the shaft 63, and is capable of slight lateral sliding movement on said shaft.

At the lower end of each lever 63 is an arm 64. At the rear end of the body of the flying machine is a vertical strip or rudder member 67 pivoted at one edge and adapted to swing from vertical position downwardly and rearwardly to horizontal position. The two positions being shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Below the movable rudder member 67 is a similar movable rudder member 68 pivoted or hinged at one edge and adapted to swing from vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, to horizontal position parallel with the rudder member 67.

Springs 69 are connected with the two rudder members 67 and 68 to normally hold them extending rearwardly parallel with each other.

Pivoted to the rudder members 67 and 68 are forwardly extending links 70 and 71 which slidably extend through the frame members 64. At the forward ends, the links 70 and 71 are angular in cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and are formed with vertical slots 72. Each lever 62 is provided with a, lug 73, so that when the lever 62 is at one limit of its lateral sliding movement, the lug 73 may slide along the link 70 without moving the link 70, whereas if the lever 63 is moved toward another limit of its sliding movement the lug 73 will enter the notch 72 and thereafter the pivotal movement of the lever 62 will actuate the link 70 or 71 as the case may be.

The flying machine has a landing chassis 74.

I will now describe briefly the practical operation of my improved flying machine.

It is, of course, assumed that my flying machine is used with a suitable engine, and in this connection it may be mentioned that with my type of machine a starter may be used with the engine, for the reason that the engine may be started without starting the propellers.

Assume that the engine has been started, the right-hand lever 62 is drawn back for thereby tilting the right-hand wings clownwardly to their position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Before the right-hand lever 62 is drawn rearwardly, it is moved laterally until its lug 73 enters the corresponding notch 72, whereupon the operation of the right-hand lever 62 serves to move the rudder member 67 from its position shown in Fig. 4 toward its position shown in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that if desired, the left-hand lever may be manipulated for bringing the lower movable rudder member 68 to position shown in Fig. 1.

The clutch members 18 and 17 are then permitted to move into engagement and the clutch members 24 and 26 are moved into engagement for throwing the propellers into gear. It will be seen that the front propel- .ler has a pulling force tending to pull the machine in the direction in which it would be guided by the wings, and the rudders and the lower propeller gives a direct upward push to the machine. The lower propeller alone is not used to attempt to raise the machine, and no attempt should be made to cause the machine to rise straight into the air. The lower propeller, however, assists in making a steep ascent when used in connection with the forward propeller and the pivoted wings and the type of rudder shown herein. As soon as the machine has risen sufficiently, the pressure on the foot 244. AERONAUTICS pedal 36 is released and the lower propeller is thrown out of gear.

After the machine is in the air the rudder members 67 and 68 are preferably released and will normally assume and retain the position shown in Fig. &.

A lateral turning and also rising or dipping in the air may be accomplished by tilting the wings.

If it is desired to turn to the right, the right-hand wings 48 are tilted upwardly somewhat, whereupon the machine will swing to the right. Pivotally connected with the links 70 and 71 are levers 75, whereby in landing the rudder members 68 and 67 may be moved to their positions for retarding the speed of the machine.

\Vith my machine I believe I can secure greater quickness of maneuvers than in any other type of flying machine.

The control of the wings is very great, and a very slight change in their relative positions affords a quick change in the direction or movement of the machine.

Also when necessary for very quick rising movement, the propeller 43 may b thrown into gear.

y machine would be especially adapted for fighting purposes, but may be used anywhere where quick maneuvering and great control are desired, or where it is necessary to land or rise from a small landing field.

It is obvious that numerous changes might be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the essential features and purposes thereof, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

In a flying machine, a body, pairs of wings on opposite sides of the body, spaced vertically from each other, the opposite pairs being connected together for simultaneous movement, and being pivoted at their forward edges, a pair of rudder members pivoted along adjacent edges at the rear of the body along a line which is horizontal when the machine is in its normal position, and adapted to swing from horizontal adjacent position to vertically oppositely extending position, and means for controlling the movement of the opposite pairs of wings, said means being adapted when actuated in certain ways to also control said rudder members.

Des Moines, Iowa October 22, 1918.

PETER L. HARVEY. 

